Systems and Methods For Promoting Customer Engagement In Travel Related Programs

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for normalizing hotel rooms across independent distribution channels. The method includes creating a meta-category matrix of sameness metrics for the hotel rooms based on a set of attributes. Room descriptions for a plurality of the hotel rooms are retrieved from a plurality of the independent distribution channels. Equivalent hotel rooms are automatically assigned to the same meta-category based on a rule set applied to the retrieved room descriptions and the set of attributes. Hotel rooms that do not correspond to one of the meta-categories are identified, and are manually assigned to a meta-category. The rule set is then revised based on the manual assignment.

1 . A method for normalizing hotel rooms across independent distribution channels, comprising:
 creating a meta-category matrix of sameness metrics for the hotel rooms based on a set of attributes;   retrieving room descriptions for a plurality of the hotel rooms from a plurality of the independent distribution channels;   automatically assigning equivalent hotel rooms to the same meta-category based on a rule set applied to the retrieved room descriptions and the set of attributes;   identifying hotel rooms that do not correspond to one of the meta-categories;   manually assigning the identified hotel rooms to a meta-category; and   revising the rule set based on the manual assignment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further including determining a fair market value (FMV) for a meta-category of normalized rooms and displaying the FMV with links to independent distribution channels upon which the FMV is based. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the attributes are selected from the group consisting of smoking/non-smoking, view class, fitness center, room size, number of beds, price, kitchenette, free breakfast, in-room bar, floor level, and bed size. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the rule set assigns the identified hotel rooms to the same meta-category if at least a predetermined number of its attributes match those of a selected meta-category. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein revising the rule set employs adaptive fuzzy-logic techniques. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein revising the rule set includes adding an attribute to the matrix of sameness metrics based on a room description. 
     
     
         7 . A system for normalizing hotel rooms across independent distribution channels, comprising:
 a general logic module configured to:   create a meta-category matrix of sameness metrics for the hotel rooms based on a set of attributes; and   retrieve room descriptions for a plurality of the hotel rooms from a plurality of the independent distribution channels;   a rules engine module configured to:   automatically assign equivalent hotel rooms to the same meta-category based on a rule set applied to the retrieved room descriptions and the set of attributes;   identify hotel rooms that do not correspond to one of the meta-categories;   manually assign the identified hotel rooms to a meta-category; and   revise the rule set based on the manual assignment.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , further including a fair market value (FMV) module configured to determine a fair market value (FMV) for a meta-category of normalized rooms and display, on a user interface, the FMV with links to independent distribution channels upon which the FMV is based. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the attributes are selected from the group consisting of smoking/non-smoking, view class, fitness center, room size, number of beds, price, kitchenette, free breakfast, in-room bar, floor level, and bed size. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the rule set assigns the identified hotel rooms to the same meta-category if at least a predetermined number of its attributes match those of a selected meta-category. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the rule set is revised utilizing an adaptive fuzzy-logic technique. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the rule set is revised by adding an attribute to the matrix of sameness metrics based on a room description. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having software instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to:
 create a meta-category matrix of sameness metrics for the hotel rooms based on a set of attributes;   retrieve room descriptions for a plurality of the hotel rooms from a plurality of the independent distribution channels;   automatically assign equivalent hotel rooms to the same meta-category based on a rule set applied to the retrieved room descriptions and the set of attributes;   identify hotel rooms that do not correspond to one of the meta-categories;   manually assign the identified hotel rooms to a meta-category; and   revise the rule set based on the manual assignment.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the software instructions further cause the processing device to determine a fair market value (FMV) for a meta-category of normalized rooms and displaying the FMV with links to independent distribution channels upon which the FMV is based. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the attributes are selected from the group consisting of smoking/non-smoking, view class, fitness center, room size, number of beds, price, kitchenette, free breakfast, in-room bar, floor level, and bed size. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the rule set assigns the identified hotel rooms to the same meta-category if at least a predetermined number of its attributes match those of a selected meta-category. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the software instructions cause the processing device to revise the rule set using an adaptive fuzzy-logic technique. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the software instructions further cause the processing device to revise the rule set by adding an attribute to the matrix of sameness metrics based on a room description.